Crimping tool

ABSTRACT

A TOOL FOR CONTINUOUSLY FOLLOWING AT LEAST TWO ADJACENT RIB JOINTS FORMED BY OVERLAPPING RIBS OF ADJACENT STEEL PANELS FROM END TO END SO THAT SAID RIBS MAY BE DEFORMED OR CRIMPED CONTINUOUSLY OR INTERMITTENTLY AS DESIRED, BY PIVOTING FORMING ROLLS, TO EFFECT CONTINUOUS ENGAGEMENT, COMPLETE INTERLOCKING AND RESISTANCE TO DISENGAGEMENT OF ADJACENT PANELS.

Oct. 5, 1971 D. M. TAYLOR 3,609,845

CRIMPING TOOL Filed Dec. 29, 1969 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 I 0 mm;

lNVENTOR/S 00mm M 721mm,

Oct. 5, 1971 D. M. TAYLOR 3,609,845

GRIMPING TOOL Filed Dec. 29, 1969 3 Shoots-Sheet 2 INVENTOR/S DOA/Aw M- 7ZYLOR,

BY J/W, yam, 324;, May,

ATTORN EYS Oct. 5, 1971 D. M. TAYLOR 3,609,845

' CRIMPING TOOL Filed Dec. 29, 1969 3 Sheets-Sheet "'HHHHHIHHIII.

INVENTOR/S DONALD M. 71mm,

m an/2%,,

United States Patent O1 hc;

3,609,845 Patented Oct. 5,, 1971 3,609,845 CRIMPING TOOL Donald M. Taylor, Hamilton, Ohio, assignor to Armco Steel Corporation, Middletown, Ohio Filed Dec. 29, 1969, Ser. No. 888,366 Int. Cl. B23p 19/00 U.S. Cl. 29-200 16 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A tool for continuously following at least two adjacent rib joints formed by overlapping ribs of adjacent steel panels from end to end so that said ribs may be deformed or crimped continuously or intermittently as desired, by pivoting forming rolls, to effect continuous engagement, complete interlocking and resistance to disengagement of adjacent panels.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION (1) Field of the invention This invention relates to tools for assembling metallic construction panels and, more particularly, to tools for assembling panels which include surface portions and interlocking inverted channel-shaped ribs along the abutting edges of the panels adapted to form rib joints.

(2) Description of the prior art Numerous attempts have been made to develop a tool which will satisfactorily join popular steel building panels which include a surface portion and an upstanding rib along each longitudinal edge of the surface portion. In general, the ribs are configured to mate with the corresponding rib of an adjacent panel. In practice, each of the ribs on a given panel generally include an inverted U portion, and the rib along one edge of the panel, the female rib, is arranged with the U portion extending outwardly of the surface portion of the panel, while the U portion of the opposite rib, the male rib, extends inwardly, being disposed above the surface portion of the panel. Accordingly, when mating ribs of adjacent panels are engaged together, the surface portions of the adjacent panels will abut one another in a single plane.

The prior art has long been concerned with developing a fully satisfactory way of securing panels similar to the aforementioned adjacent panels together, as well as with developing a tool therefor. As background, it will be understood that in certain cases, wherein extra rigidity is required, or wherein the seams between adjacent panels were caulked, the prior art has utilized screws through the portions of the ribs which are parallel to the surface portion of the panels. However, this proved to be unsatisfactory in that it was very time consuming and thus an expensive operation. Additionally, the possibilities of leaks in the panel system were greatly increased.

In order to avoid the use of screws, the prior art did develop miscellaneous tools which would simultaneously engage the rib portion of adjacent panels, force them into their proper relationship, and crimp to secure them in that position. However, such tools have proved to be unsatisfactory because they were of the hand type mechanical crimper variety which could deform only a small area of the female rib. Accordingly, to space such crimps as close together as was required to be effective proved to be time consuming and the results were not always satisfactory due to inherent variations in tolerance in manufacturing the panels.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Very briefly considered, this invention contemplates a crimping tool which includes a frame member which is substantially parallel with and extends the width of at least one of the surface portions of the steel construction panels to be joined and is adapted to rest on adjacent rib joints. A plurality of opposed guide and carrier rolls are mounted on the underside of the frame member at either end thereof and positioned so as to be contiguous with adjacent rib joints. At least two opposed driven squeeze rolls are mounted on the underside of the frame member and positioned so as to be contiguous with the adjacent rib joints. At least one pair of opposed undriven forming rolls are journaled to the frame member at opposite ends thereof and adjacent the bottom edge thereof so as to pivot together adjacent the rib joints. The forming rolls pivot from an engaged position, wherein the free or camming end of each forming roll is at the point in its are closest to the frame member and contiguous with one of the adjacent ribs, to a disengaged position. Means are provided mounted on the frame member for pivoting the forming rolls to and between their engaged and disengaged positions. In operation, as the squeeze rolls are driven and the forming rolls are in their engaged position, the tool continuously follows the adjacent panel ribs from end to end and the ribs may be deformed or crimped continuously or intermittently as desired to effect continuous engagement, complete interlocking and resistance to disengagement of adjacent panels.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the tool of this invention with a portion thereof cut-away.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view, partially in section of the tool of this invention.

FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view of the tool of this invention.

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of FIG. 2, with the forming rolls in the disengaged position.

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view similar to FIG. 4 with the forming rolls in the engaged position.

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view similar to FIG. 4 of a second embodiment of the tool of this invention, with the forming rolls in the disengaged position.

FIG. 6A is a partial cross sectional view similar to FIG. 6 of a further embodiment of the tool of this invention.

FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view similar to FIG. 6 with the forming rolls in the engaged position.

FIG. 8 is a partial perspective view showing the crimping of only the female flange of a panel rib by the tool of this invention.

FIG. 9 is a partial perspective view showing the crimping of both the male and female flanges of a panel rib by the tool of this invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Turning first to FIGS. 1 and 2, it will be seen that the crimping tool 10 includes at least one frame member, which, for purposes of explanation only, is shown as two juxtaposed channel-shaped members 12 and 13, substantially parallel with and extending the width of at. least one of the construction panels 14a, 14b, or 140. However, it will, of course, be clearly understood that any desired frame member may be utilized, including, for example, tubular sections and the like. A plurality of opposed guide rolls 16 and carrier rolls 18 are mounted on each base of the channel-shaped members 12 and 13. The two juxtaposed legs of the channel-shaped members 12 and 13 are joined together by the blocks 20 which are journaled to receive the rotatable shafts 21 of the squeeze rolls 22. Positioned on top of each shaft 21 and mounted for rotation therewith is a gear 23 having teeth 23a thereon which mesh with means mounted on the channel-shaped members 12 and 13 to simultaneously drive the squeeze rolls 22.

The means to simultaneously drive the squeeze rolls 22 may, of course, comprise any suitable power source. However, as shown, this includes an electric motor 24 mounted centrally on the channel-shaped members 12 and 13. A chain 26 connects the power shaftof the electric motor 24 with the teeth 23 of the gears 23 and thus with the squeeze rolls 22 so that they are simultaneously driven together. While the motor 24 has been shown with the power shaft 25 in a vertical plane, it will, of course, be understood that the motor 24 may be positioned on the frame member as desired, such as, for example, so that the power shaft 25 is in a horizontal plane.

It should also be noted that according to the present invention suitable support means, such as the additional frame member 11, position the electric motor 24 centrally on one or both of the juxtaposed channel-shaped members 12 and 13.

As can be seen from FIGS. 3 through 5, at least one pair of opposed undriven forming rolls 28 are pivotally connected to the channel-shaped members 12 and 13 at opposite ends thereof and adjacent the bottom edge thereof so as to pivot together. While any suitable mounting for the forming rolls 28 may be utilized, as can be seen in a preferred embodiment, the forming rolls 28 are secured to the blocks 30 which are pivotally mounted between the juxtaposed legs of the channel-shaped members 12 and 13. The forming rolls 28 are positioned such that they pivot together from an engaged position, wherein the free or camming end 28:: of each forming roll 28 is at the point in its arc closest to the channel-shaped members 12 and 13 and spaced from one of the squeeze rolls 22, so as to contact the interlocking ribs of the panels, to a disengaged position, wherein the free or camrning end 28a of each-forming roll 28 is at a point in its arc farthest from the channel-shaped members 12 and 13. The forming rolls 28 may pivot together in a plane substantially parallel to the channel-shaped members 12 and 13, if desired.

Any suitable means may be mounted on the channelshaped members 13 for pivoting the forming rolls 28 to and between their engaged and disengaged positions. Exemplary of one such pivoting means is that disclosed in FIGS. 1 through 5 of the drawings, wherein the shaft 32 of each forming roll 28 extends through the block 30 associated with that forming roll. The ends 3211 of the shafts 32 are substantially identical in height and pivotally connected to a bar member 34 by means of the pins 38. An arm 36 is pivotally connected at one end 36a to the juxtaposed legs of the channel-shaped members 12 and 13 and intermediate its length to one of the ends of the bar member 34, which are pivotally connected to one of the shafts 32. The pins 39a and 39b, which are located on the bar member 34, may be utilized with any suitable handle means to lock the bar member 34 when the forming rolls 28 have been pivoted to their engaged or disengaged positions. For example, when the handle means 40 is associated with the pin 39a, the forming rolls 28 are in their engaged position. Likewise, when the handle means 40 is associated with the pin 3%, the forming rolls 28 are in their disengaged position.

FIGS. 6 and 7 disclose still another exemplary means for pivoting the forming rolls 28 to and between their engaged and disengaged positions. As can be seen, one of the shafts 32 has been extended to provide an arm 37. The pins 391: and 39b, which are located on the bar member 34, are utilized with any suitable handle means associated with the arm 37 to lock the bar member 34 when the forming rolls 28 have been pivoted to their engaged or disengaged positions. In the preferred embodiment the handle means includes an adjustable wedge 41 which aids in accurately and positively adjusting the forming rolls 28 to accommodate any variations in the ribs due to production or installation as well as to provide for the desired amount of crimping of the interlocking ribs of the metallic construction panels. The wedge 41 is provided with a plurality of apertures 41a which receive a bolt 43 or the like through the arm 37. The bolt 43 is secured through the arm 37 and the wedge 41 by means of a cotter key 45. One end of the Wedge 41 is, of course, associated with either one of the pins 39a or 3%.

Additionally, as seen in FIG. 6A, the member 34 may be provided with a threaded section 34a at one end thereof which is received by a threaded clevis 40 connected to one of the shafts 32 by a pin 38. This adjustment means is secured by the locking nut 35. The other end of the member 34 is provided with a swivel joint 42 which is connected to the other shaft 32 by a pin 38. Accordingly, the positions of the forming rolls 28 may be adjusted relative to each other so as to accommodate variations in the ribs due to production or installation as well as to provide for the desired amount of crimping of the interlocking ribs of the metallic construction panels.

Again considering FIGS. 4 through 7, the operation of this tool will be described. Three conventional panels such as indicated at 14a, 14b and 14c are placed together in the approximately proper position. As can be seen, each of the panels 14a, 14b and include the surface por tions 15a, 15b and and interlocking inverted channelshaped ribs along the abutting edges of the panels adapted to form rib joints. Each rib joint is provided with an inverted channel-shaped female member 17 secured along the edge of one panel and a corresponding inverted channel-shaped male member 19 secured along the edge of the adjacent panel. The female and male members 17 and 19 have corresponding upstanding members 17a and 19a projecting from the abutting edges of the panels, corresponding upper portions 17b and 19b, and flanges 17c and Us extending downwardly from the upper portions 17!; and 19b toward but not contacting the surface portions 15a, 15b and 150 of one of the panels. The outer surface of the male member 19 is adapted to mate with the corresponding inner surface of the female member 17 throughout its length.

In operation, the crimping tool of this invention is placed so that the carrier rolls 18 mounted on the bases of the channel-shaped members 12 and 13 rest on the female upper portions 171; of adjacent rib joints and so that the guide rolls 16 on the underside of each base of the channel-shaped members 12 and 13 will be contiguous with the female upstanding members 17a and the female flanges of adjacent rib joints. Accordingly, the tool 10 of the present invention is firmly positioned between adjacent panel ribs and precluded from rotation. When the tool is so positioned the squeeze rolls 22 are contiguous with the female upstanding members 17a of the adjacent rib joints so that when driven by the motor 24, the tool 10 is caused to follow or traverse the complete length of the adjacent panel rib joints. As the tool 10 follows or traverses the complete length of the adjacent panel rib joints, the forming rolls 28 are piwated as desired between their engaged and disengaged positions, which are indicated in FIGS. 5 and 4, respectively. If the forming rolls 28 are maintained in their engaged position, as shown in FIG. 5, the free or camming ends 28a thereof will continuously deform or crimp the rib joints. However, it will, of course, be clear that the forming roils 28 may be engaged or disengaged as desired so that the rib joints may be continuously or intermittently deformed or crimped. Such deformation or crimping of the adjacent rib joints effects continuous engagement, complete interlocking and resistance to disengagement of the interlocking panels.

As can be seen from FIGS. 8 and 9, the crimping tool 10 of this invention may be utilized to deform or crimp the flanges of the panel ribs in many Ways so as to effect the desired results. For example, such deformation could range from a complete hem through a variety of deformations, including reformation of the angle of both male and female members 19 and 17, as shown in FIG. 9. However, deformation of the flanges of the female members of the panel ribs only, as shown in FIG. 8, when the length of the female fiange exceeds the length of the male fiange, is still another way of accomplishing the intimate engagement and the mechanical interlock desired. It will, of course, be clearly understood that the resulting deformation or crimping will depend upon the chosen engagement position for the forming rolls 28.

It will be apparent to the skilled worker in the art that numerous modifications can be made in this invention without departing from its scope and spirit. Accordingly, no limitations are intended except insofar as specifically set forth in the claims which follow.

What I claim is:

1. In a tool for assembling metallic construction panels having interlocking ribs:

(a) a frame comprising at least one member substantially parallel with and extending the width of one of said construction panels;

(b) a plurality of opposed guide and carrier rolls which are mounted on the underside of said frame member at either end thereof;

(c) at least two opposed squeeze rolls mounted on the underside of said frame member at either end thereof;

(d) means mounted on said frame member to simultaneously drive said squeeze rolls;

(e) at least one pair of opposed undriven forming rols which are journaled to said frame member at opposite ends thereof and adjacent the bottom edge thereof so as to pivot together, said forming rolls having an engaged position, wherein the camming end of each forming roll is in contact with one of said ribs, and a disengaged position, wherein the camming end of each forming roll is spaced from one of said ribs, whereby to cam said construction panels together as said forming rolls are pivoted to their engaged position; and

(f) means mounted on said frame member for pivoting said forming rolls to and between their engaged and disengaged positions.

2. The tool according to claim 1, wherein said frame member comprises two juxtaposed channel-shaped members, the bases thereof being coplanar, and wherein at least one pair of guide and carrier rolls are mounted on the underside of each base of said channel-shaped members.

3. The tool according to claim 2, wherein said squeeze rolls and said form rolls are mounted between said juxtaposed channel-shaped members.

4. The tool according to claim 3, wherein said means to simultaneously drive said squeeze rolls comprises an electric motor mounted centrally on said channel-shaped members, gear means communicating with said squeeze rolls, and chain means connecting said gear means with the power shaft of said motor.

5. The tool according to claim 4, wherein said means mounted on said frame member for pivoting said forming rolls comprises a bar substantially parallel to said channelshaped members and pivotally attached at each end to said forming rolls, and handle means pivotally connected to said bar.

6. The tool according to claim 5, wherein an adjustable wedge is associated with said handle means to accurately and positively adjust said forming rolls so that said tool accommodates manufacturing variations in said ribs and crimps said interlocking ribs as desired.

7. The tool according to claim 1, wherein said frame member comprises two juxtaposed, coplanar tubular sections, and wherein at least one pair of guide and carrier rolls are mounted on the underside of each base of said tubular sections.

'8. The tool according to claim 1, wherein said pair of forming rolls pivot together in a plane substantially parallel to said frame member.

9. In a tool for assembling metallic construction panels which include surface portions and interlocking inverted channel-shaped ribs along the abutting edges of said panels adapted to form rib joints, each said rib joint having an inverted channel-shaped female member secured along the edge of one panel and a corresponding inverted channel-shaped male member secured along the edge of the adjacent panel, said male and female members having corresponding upstanding members projecting from said abutting edges, corresponding upper portions, and flanges extending downwardly from said upper portions toward but not contacting the surface portion of one of said panels, the outer surface of said male member being adapted to mate with the corresponding inner surface of said female member throughout its length:

(a) a frame comprising at least one member substantially parallel with and extending at least the width of one of said surface portions and adapted to rest on said upstanding portions of adjacent rib joints;

(b) a plurality of opposed guide and carrier rolls which are mounted on the underside of said frame member and positioned so as to be contiguous with the female upstanding member and the female flange of at least two adjacent rib joints, respectively;

(c) at least two opposed squeeze rolls which are mounted on the underside of said frame member at either end thereof, each said squeeze roll being positioned so as to be contiguous with the female upstanding member of one of said adjacent rib joints;

(d) means mounted on said frame to simultaneously drive said squeeze rolls;

(e) at least one pair of opposed undriven forming rolls which are journaled to said frame member at opposite ends thereof and adjacent the bottom edge thereof so as to pivot together adjacent said rib joints, said forming rolls having an engaged position, wherein the camming end of each forming roll is in contact with one of said ribs, and a disengaged position, wherein the camming end of each forming roll is spaced from one of said ribs, whereby to cam said construction panels together as said forming rolls are pivoted to their engaged position; and

(f) means mounted on said frame member for pivoting said forming rolls to and between their engaged and disengaged positions;

whereby said tool continuously follows said adjacent panel ribs from end to end and said ribs may be deformed or crimped continuously or intermittently as desired to effect continuous engagement, complete interlocking and resistance to disengagement of said channel-shaped members.

10. A tool according to claim 9, wherein said frame comprises two juxtaposed channel-shaped members, the bases thereof being coplanar and adapted to rest on said upper portions of adjacent rib joints, and wherein at least one pair of guide and carrier rolls are mounted on the underside of each base of said channel-shaped members.

11. The tool according to claim 10, wherein said squeeze rolls and said form rolls are mounted between said channel-shaped members.

12. The tool according to claim 11, wherein said means to simultaneously drive said squeeze rolls comprises an electric motor mounted centrally on said channel-shaped members, gear means communicating with said squeeze rolls, and chain means connecting said gear means with the power shaft of said motor.

13. The tool according to claim 12, wherein said means mounted on said frame member for pivoting said forming roll comprises a bar substantially parallel to said channelshaped members and pivotally attached at each end to said forming rolls, and handle means pivotally attached to said bar.

14. The tool according to claim 9, wherein an adjustable Wedge is associated with said handle means to accurately and positively adjust said forming rolls so that said tool accommodates manufacturing variations in said ribs and crimps said interlocking ribs as desired.

15. The tool according to claim 9, wherein said. frame member comprises two juxtaposed, coplanar tubular sections, and wherein at least one pair of guide and carrier rolls are mounted on the underside of each base of said sections.

16. The tool according to claim 9, wherein said pair of forming rolls pivot together in a plane substantially parallel to said frame member.

References Cited 10 THOMAS H. EAGER, Primary Examiner 

